Bill Heywood

Experience

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  Vision Integrated Marketing

  Jul 1994 - Jun 1996

  IT Services Manager

  • Managed company’s IT budget• Developed and implemented company IT policies & automation procedures especially in the studio and design departments.

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  Apple

  Jul 1996 - Aug 1999

  Software QA Engineer Team Lead

  I headed a team of Software QA Engineers that successfully delivered a number of high quality, on time, software projects for major software & OS releases. These included Mac Buddy, Internet Connection Kit and Internet Access for Mac OS 8 & 9. Internet Access software included Internet connection assistants as well as third party web client, email applications and utilities to create the most user friendly Internet sign up experience for new computer users at the time. This easy Internet setup was the key software-selling feature of the original iMac and iBook ranges. It literally put the ‘i’ in iMac. Show less

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  Verano inc (Sunnyvale, CA)

  Aug 1999 - Sept 2001

  Software QA Engineer Team Lead

  • Team lead for Software QA teams based in California and India.• Managed the continuing improvement of company wide quality practices in all departments• I successfully released the company’s Luminar and Click-to-Biz Enterprise software application suites, on time & on budget.

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  WorldChain Inc (Fremont, CA)

  Oct 2001 - Jul 2002

  Software Automation Engineer

  • I developed and executed WinRunner scripts to provision test data and production data for WorldChain’s client platform.• I developed non-functional requirements by collaborating with clients, business and technical SMEs. I created and executed LoadRunner scripts to verify the load and stress requirements of the system.

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  Sun Microsystems Ltd (Dublin, Ireland)

  Sept 2002 - Jul 2004

  Software QA Engineer Team Lead in Volume Server Products (VSP) Development Group

  • I guided a team of QA engineers that successfully released several servers in Sun’s Fire Blade Server Platform range.• I implemented Six Sigma methodologies in the SDLC to align deliverables to customer CTQs.• I instigated the Test Automation initiative in the Dublin site through partnership with other Sun Microsystems sites worldwide.

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  AIB BankCentre (Dublin, Ireland)

  Jul 2004 - May 2005

  Snr. IT Consultant

  • I implemented best practice System Test methodologies & tools for the successful $65M program.

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  Bank of Ireland

  May 2005 - Jun 2007

  Snr. IT Consultant - QA Manager, Basel II Program PMO

  Basel II was developed to create an international standard for banking regulators to safeguard against financial and operational risks.• I developed and executed BOI’s strategy for the verification of Basle II compliance, utilizing a new SAP implementation, across all affected business units & systems• I partnered with business stakeholders from the 9 business units and 7 central program work streams to ensure compliance across the banking group. • I managed the relationship with internal business units, development & 3rd party software vendors (SAP & Rockall Technologies) Show less

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  AIB

  Jul 2007 - Dec 2008

  Snr. IT Consultant - Software QA Manager, SEPA & Anti Money Laundering Program PMOs

  The Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) Program was mandated by the European Commission to deliver a uniform electronic payments infrastructure across the 31 states of the SEPA zone.• I developed and executed AIB’s enterprise wide Quality Assurance strategies for SEPA Bulk and Anti Money Laundering Programs covering all SDLC phases for both 3rd party and internal stakeholders’ deliverables.• I managed the relationship with 3rd party software vendors & partners (Norkom & Accenture)

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  Canada Life

  Feb 2009 - Dec 2009

  Snr. IT Consultant - Software QA Manager, European Distribution Technology Program

  I successfully delivered all Software QA & QC projects in the European Distribution Technology Program. Using Agile methodology, I delivered regular high priority incremental software releases across Canada Life’s European businesses.

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  Arvato Financial Solutions, Global F&A

  Dec 2009 - Sept 2018

  I headed the global change management function to introduce 200+ system, software and operational projects at any given time into Google’s fast-paced Global Revenue Operations and Electronic Payment Services divisions. These changes included projects & programs to upgrade systems & tools or migrate to new systems used by the 700+ person global operation. Projects also included the introduction of new M&As, products, entities, operational processes and procedures as well as restructuring of teams, adding new sites & outsourcing additional work streams from Google to Arvato. As well as leading the day-to-day change management function, I initiated the re-engineering the change framework used by Arvato’s Google FinOps organization. In consultation with the client and Arvato’s senior management, I lead a program that introduced a new framework. It transformed the processes, tools, team structure & client engagement model. The changes focused on speed, quality, cost & customer satisfaction. The delivery of the program created a robust & flexible framework that effectively implemented changes more quickly, to the required quality, while avoiding or mitigating risk. The evaluation of changes included an assessment of operational capacity & workforce management, operational risk & controls, SLAs, training, process documentation, commercials, contract, legal and scope of services across Google’s fast growing multi-billon dollar global financial operation. The new change management framework allowed for:- appropriate levels of governance & approval based on project classification & sub-classification, complexity & risk profile- the utilization of different methodologies including transition, waterfall and agile depending on the type of project Using the new framework 55% more operational change was implemented, 40% faster, with the same resources compared to the previous model. Client satisfaction showed measured improvement thought SLAs, CSAT, MBRs & QSRs scores. Show less I lead two teams: 1) The Planning and Support Services team responsible for IT offshore and near shore contracts, IT budgets, IT controlling & investment tracking, IT resource supply, demand, capacity & capability planning, IT contract negotiation, Project Portfolio Management, prioritization, change management & approval. • I established and built this team in Arvato from scratch. This function provided the company with data on all IT run & change costs. Using this data, I instituted changes that reduced overall IT costs by 22% in year one while delivering increased services to the organization and client base. • I established the Project Portfolio Management function to prioritize, approve and monitor strategic projects. I created a WFM framework to manage project resources and capacity planning. I chaired Arvato’s change control board. • I worked closely with the CIO to establish an onshore/near store/offshore model for the QA & Software Engineering functions. I lead the RFP and bidding processes for the QA function.2) The Software QA team are responsible for software quality for all Arvato systems, applications and services• I spearheaded QA productivity & quality improvement through focus on tools, test automation, best practice QA methodologies, team restructuring & training. These initiatives reduced cost of QA while transforming quality and capacity. • I was awarded an Arvato “all-star” from my direct reports for leadership excellence and team transformation. Show less

  • Global Business Change Manager

    Jul 2013 - Sept 2018

  • Senior IT Manager

    Dec 2009 - Jun 2013
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  On career break

  Dec 2022 - Jan 2023

  On career break